Mission Hospital was founded in Mission Viejo in 1971 and has continued to develop new programs and services to meet the ever changing needs of the community. In 1993, Mission Hospital partnered with CHOC Children’s to provide pediatric services and a year later, became a member of the St. Joseph Health network of care. In 2009, Mission Hospital expanded its geographic footprint to include south Orange County’s coast line by acquiring Mission Hospital Laguna Beach.

Search by Providers Name

Search by Specialty

Mission Hospital has an award-winning staff that is leading the way in medical ingenuity. Our accomplishments have led to such awards as the Outstanding Achievement Award for the Commission on Cancer in 2008 – causing us to be one of 66 hospitals in the entire nation to be honored. Combining care for the mind, body and spirit, we take a unique approach to every individual patient.

The Mission Hospital Foundation embodies the Spirit of Giving by building lifelong relationships with community members and raising funds to support Mission Hospital.
Mission Hospital Foundation will be the critical force in supporting Mission Hospital's vision to serve the community with the most advanced diagnostic care in the world.

Visit Us

Heart Institute

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram is a non-invasive imagining test. It helps your doctor
evaluate your heart. This test is both safe and harmless. Pictures are
obtained by bounding sound waves (ultrasound) off the heart. A transducer
(device that looks like a microphone) is used.

Before the Procedure

Please allow extra time for checking in. Wear a two-piece outfit for the
test. You will be asked to remove clothing from the waist up. You will
be given a hospital gown to cover your chest.

During the Test

Most echocardiograms take 45 minutes. Electrodes will be placed on your
chest to monitor your heartbeat. The technician will use a wet gel applied
to the transducer, which will be moved firmly over your chest. Because
air in the lungs can affect the images, you might be asked to alter your
breathing pattern. The echocardiogram will also include a Doppler study
test, which will evaluate the blood flow through the heart. During this
part of the test you will hear a "whooshing" sound, representing
your blood flow. The pictures are stored electronically for later viewing.

Test Results

Your doctor will discuss your test results with you during a future office visit.

To improve health care quality, the American College of Cardiology (ACC)
strongly supports laboratory accreditation for its independent evaluation
and validation of performance of providers and facilities. Patients can
rely on accreditation as an indication that the facility where their examination
will be performed has proven a commitment to providing quality testing
for the diagnosis of heart disorders and disease. Patients can rest assured
that accredited facilities have been carefully critiqued on all aspects
of operations relevant in the field of echocardiography.